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Program description

The Doctor of Philosophy in psychology program will provide graduate students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to become successful producers of research, investigating the structures, processes and products of the mind. Psychology is a broad discipline that interfaces with the biological and social sciences. This graduate program is organized around two concentrations that together comprehensively cover psychological science: (1) biological and basic processes, and (2) social and behavioral sciences. These concentrations represent two broad areas that focus on psychological phenomena from different orientations in moderately overlapping but distinguishable content areas. Graduate students will have broad exposure to both concentrations that will be extended by an intensive inquiry specialized in one concentration. Students will apply for admission in either the biological and basic processes concentration or the social and behavioral sciences concentration.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadline listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

January 15 for fall semester

Readmission and program transfer

Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.

International application deadlines

International applications are reviewed for fall admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines:

University graduate application requirements

Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.

Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.

As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.

Program application requirements

One additional Recommendation for Graduate Admission form. All must be from faculty members who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant

An essay (i.e., statement of purpose) describing the applicant’s interest in the program, research interests, and career goals

Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, the department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses, and GRE scores.

Degree requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy in psychology degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 80 credits in an approved program of study and successful completion and oral defense of a doctoral dissertation as determined by the student’s advisory committee.

The normal full-time course load for graduate students is 8 to 12 credits per semester. Students who have previously earned a master’s degree from Oakland University or another regionally-accredited institution may reduce the 80 credits of coursework required for the doctoral degree by up to 32 credits. To be considered for a reduction in required doctoral credits, students must submit a Petition of Credit from Earned Master’s Degree. The advisory committee will evaluate the student’s prior master’s degree work and may reduce the required Ph.D. credits based on the master’s coursework. The decision of the advisory committee is final, but the approved petition and approved plan of study must be on file in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the end of the first year of doctoral study. All candidates must complete at least 24 credits of additional coursework exclusively at Oakland University.

Course requirements (80 credits)

The total credits required to obtain a Ph.D. in psychology degree is 80. Approved courses taken as a part of a master’s degree may be used towards satisfying this requirement. Students may also take graduate courses from other departments with the approval of their advisory committee.

a. Core requirements (28 credits)

All students regardless of the chosen area of concentration must complete the following courses:

d. Dissertation (16 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship

Receiving a fellowship or scholarship

Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree

Going on a leave of absence

Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: In the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology degree program, credit will not be awarded for courses in which a grade less than 3.0 is earned. All numerical grades earned are used in computing a student’s grade-point average.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Academic Advising and Advisory Committee

Upon admission, students will work with the Director of Graduate Training to plan their coursework for the first semester. After their fall registration, the role of academic adviser will be assumed by the major professor, who will serve as the mentor and academic adviser for the student as well as the chair of the Master of Science Thesis and/or Doctoral Dissertation Committees. Within the first year of study, the student is required to select an advisory committee consisting of their major professor and two additional faculty members. The advisory committee will (1) assist the student in developing and implementing a plan of study, (2) meet at least annually to evaluate the student’s progress, (3) approve and grade the student’s Master of Science thesis, (4) construct and grade the student’s comprehensive examination, and (5) will usually serve as the student’s doctoral dissertation committee.

Plan of Study

Upon admission, students must develop a plan of study in consultation with their major professor and the Director of Graduate Training. As soon as the student forms an advisory committee, the committee will review and update the plan of study. The plan of study must be submitted to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Enrollment

At least 24 credits of graduate coursework, excluding the dissertation credits, must be completed at Oakland University. Further, all students are required to register for at least 1 credit every fall and winter semester in every academic year, after their admission to the program.

Master of Science Thesis

Typically, with the consent of their advisory committee, students will complete and defend a Master of Science (M.S.) thesis in the second or third year of the program. The successful completion of original research–demonstrating competence in design, conduct and analysis, the creation of a M.S. thesis–effectively and accurately characterizing the research, communicating the findings and placing the research in context, and the oral defense of the thesis are major features of the M.S. degree. The advisory committee will approve and grade the student’s M.S. thesis and will be responsible for guiding this process and approving the products (i.e., the research, the thesis, and the defense of the thesis). Ordinarily, students will not sit for the comprehensive examination in the same term that they complete and defend their M.S. thesis. Acceptance of the thesis by Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning requires favorable recommendations by the advisory committee. All theses must conform to university standards (see Thesis and Dissertation).

Comprehensive Examination

Typically, with the consent of their advisory committee, students will sit for the comprehensive examination in the second or third year of the program. If two of the three members of the advisory committee approve (P) the student’s performance on the comprehensive examination, the student will be considered as having successfully completed the examination. If the student does not pass the examination, the advisory committee may allow the student to retake the examination within one year. Failure to pass the examination within two attempts shall constitute failure in the Ph.D. program. Ordinarily, students will not sit for the comprehensive examination in the same term that they complete and defend their Master of Science thesis.

Dissertation Committee

Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, each student will be expected to identify a dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will be chaired by the student’s major professor and include two additional faculty members from the Department of Psychology. The student’s advisory committee typically will comprise the dissertation committee. When it is appropriate to the student’s plan of study and approved by the student’s major professor, an outside scholar or expert may be substituted for one of the faculty members from the Department of Psychology. The dissertation committee will guide the student’s dissertation research and creation of the dissertation. A majority of the members must approve the dissertation before it can be defended by the candidate. In addition, the dissertation committee, acting as the defense committee, must approve the candidate’s defense of the dissertation by a majority vote.

Dissertation and Defense

The successful completion of original research—demonstrating competence in design, conduct and analysis, the creation of a doctoral dissertation—effectively and accurately characterizing the research, communicating the findings and placing the research in context, and the oral defense of the dissertation are major features of the doctoral degree. The dissertation committee will be responsible for guiding this process and approving the products—the research, the dissertation, and the defense of the dissertation. Acceptance of the dissertation by Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning requires favorable recommendations by the doctoral dissertation committee. All dissertations must conform to university standards (see Thesis and Dissertation).

Additional Requirements

Students will be encouraged to participate in research teams involving faculty researchers, M.S. students and undergraduates. Although the major focus will be on increasing the quality and variety of research experiences available to undergraduates, this activity is designed to provide graduate students with directed mentoring experience, particularly when combined with PSY 595, Instruction in Psychological Science.

Residence

All students are required to fulfill a residency requirement for this program. Although students may complete some of the program on a part-time basis, continuous full-time enrollment is highly preferred. The minimal residency requirement shall be full-time residency (8 credits per semester) for at least three consecutive full semesters with at least two of these devoted primarily to the student’s research project.

Continuous Enrollment

The continuous enrollment policy for doctoral students requires continuous registration of for at least 1 credit each semester in the academic year to maintain active graduate student status. This includes semesters in which the comprehensive exam is taken, defense of the M.S. thesis, and each subsequent term (fall and winter) until the degree requirements are met, and the dissertation is submitted to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Some agency and graduate assistantship eligibility may have course load requirements that exceed the minimum registration requirements of the Continuous Enrollment Policy (e.g., Veterans Affairs, Immigration and Naturalization for international students, and federal financial aid programs). Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to register for the appropriate number of credits that are required for funding eligibility and/or compliance as outlined by specific agency regulations under which they are governed.

Time Limits

Students generally will be expected to complete the degree program within five years. The maximum time limit for completing a Ph.D. degree is no more than 10 years from the term of the first course enrollment in the doctoral program. The time limit for completing a Ph.D. Degree policy requires a student to achieve candidacy within six years from the first course enrollment in the doctoral program. After being advanced to candidacy, a student is expected to complete the remaining degree requirements within four years (including the dissertation defense). If a student is deemed inactive, he or she may be dropped out of the program despite the petition for extension.